UEFA will conduct the league phase draw for the 2026-27 Champions League on Aug. 27, 2026 [1].
The draw determines the opening matchups for Europe's premier club competition, establishing the competitive landscape for the season. Because the league phase format replaces the traditional group stage, the draw process dictates how top-seeded teams avoid or face one another early in the tournament.
A total of 36 teams will participate in the league phase [2]. These clubs are divided into four pots, with nine teams assigned to each pot [2, 3]. This structure ensures a balanced distribution of opponents as the tournament progresses through its initial stage.
English football maintains a strong presence in this year's competition. Five Premier League clubs are participating in the league phase [4]. These teams will be distributed across the pots based on their qualifying coefficients.
The draw process will determine the specific opponents for each club, moving away from the smaller groups of the past toward a single league table. Each team will face a variety of opponents from different pots, a system designed to increase the number of high-profile matches in the early rounds.
“UEFA will conduct the league phase draw for the 2026-27 Champions League on Aug. 27, 2026.”
The transition to a 36-team league phase represents a significant shift in UEFA's tournament architecture. By utilizing four pots of nine teams, the competition aims to maximize revenue and viewership through more frequent matchups between elite clubs, while increasing the stakes for mid-tier teams fighting for a spot in the knockout rounds.
